BALTIMORE, Md. – Villa Julie erased a 15 point second half deficit to rally to an 80-71 non-conference victory over visiting Shenandoah University.

VJC (5-15) won the game when freshman Anthony Fitzgerald broke a 71-71 tie with 1:39 left on his first three-pointer of the contest. SU then missed its final five shots of the game as it tried to salvage the victory.

Shenandoah (8-7) jumped out to the early lead by scoring the first four points of the game and extended this advantage to seven before Villa Julie provided an omen of things to come with a rally against the Hornets reserves.

The hosts came back on the strength of an 8-0 run in 1:59 and eventually took a 29-25 lead with 9:17 remaining in the first. After the two teams traded the lead five times and were tied three others, SU took a 40-39 lead into the halftime lockerroom when senior Tyson Thompson (Keysville, Va./Randolph Henry) knocked down a 12 footer with 1:48 left.

Senior Michael Atkins (Winchester, Va./Sherando) and junior John Tigney (Winchester, Va./James Wood) counteracted a 15 point, four rebound first half from Fitzgerald by scoring nine points apiece. 

After Wade Henninger tied the game at 42-42 with a three-pointer one minute into the second, Shenandoah seemingly seized control of the game with a 16-1 run over the next three minutes.

Unfortunately for Coach Rob Harris and the Hornets, Fitzgerald brought his club back with 10 second half points to go along with 10 rebounds. 

Thompson led SU with 16 points while Tigney added a career high tying 15 and Atkins 11. 

Junior Chad Brashears (Hagerstown, Md./St. Maria Goretti) gave SU a fourth player in double figures with 13 points. Included in this total was a season high tying three three-pointers.

A full box score can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/mb/013003.htm 

The Hornets return home this weekend for the first time in nearly three weeks with a pair of Dixie Conference doubleheaders. The SU men and women will host Methodist and Greensboro on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Opening tip both days is scheduled for 2:00.